Jina Mahavira (?)

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Jina Mahavira (?)

India, Karnataka or Tamil Nadu, circa 850-900
Sculpture
Copper alloy
8 7/8 x 7 5/8 x 3 1/4 in. (22.54 x 19.37 x 8.26 cm)
From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.82.6.2)
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

Jina Mahavira (circa 599-527 BCE) was born a prince of the Lichchhavi clan of Vaishali, Bihar....
Jina Mahavira (circa 599-527 BCE) was born a prince of the Lichchhavi clan of Vaishali, Bihar. He became the 24th Jain savior (Jina or tirthankara [‘forder’ between the phenomenal world and enlightenment]). Conceived as an ideal yogi, the Jina gazes serenely while seated in the meditation posture (dhyana asana) with his legs crossed beneath him and his hands laid on top of one another in his lap (dhyana mudra). He has short snail curl hair and distended earlobes, both symbolizing his renunciation from the princely realm when he previously had long locks and wore heavy golden ear ornaments. This representation of Jina Mahavira depicts him totally naked in accordance with the rules of the Digambara (‘sky-clad’) Jain order. This sectarian affiliation is corroborated by the atypical depiction of the Jina’s genitalia on the underside of the sculpture.
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Bibliography

  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
  • Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya; S. Andhare; J. Cort; S. Gorakshakar; P. Granoff; J. Guy; G. Larson; Stephen Markel.  The Peaceful Liberators: Jain Art from India.  Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1994.
  • Helfenstein, Josef and Joseph N. Newland, eds. Experiments With Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence. Houston: Menil Collection, 2014.
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